e, it is caught through the
divining of the soul rather than by the hearing of the ear. But he has
heard it. Leaving the shadow of the vaulted passage, he emerges into the
light, like one rising from the dead; imploring his steps not to betray
him, and supporting himself on balustrades and pillars, he glides on. As
he approaches the half-open door, he sees the long veils of the windows
floating like snow-wreaths in the air; behind these thin curtains he
feels that Life and Death, hand clasped in hand, await him. He falters,
stops, presses his hand on his heart, but his fingers encounter the cold
steel of his sword; he grasps it firmly, approaches, leans his forehead
on the panes of the wide gothic door--strange that the throbbing brain
burst not its narrow bounds!

* * * * *

He sees nothing at first but fiery sparks and black spots from the
seething of his heated brain. The long muslin draperies are sometimes
lifted by the wind, and again close their veils of mist; the silver lamp
flashes on his eyes for a moment, and again vanishes from his view; but,
as his sight grows clearer, the great mirror with its frame of gold
stands before him--necklaces, bracelets, and chains flash from the
toilet before it. He trembles no longer, he ceases to make the sign of
the cross, he sees distinctly now--under the floating flow of purple
drapery the bride is sitting on the bed alone. The flowers thrown over
her by the choir of singing bridesmaids still cluster on her hair and
breast; her little feet are almost buried in the fallen rose leaves. She
sighs as if utterly unconscious of herself, thoughtless of the pain she
suffers--as if her life were only anguish! The flowers droop from her
bosom and glide to the ground; and, as the violets, myrtles, and lilies
fall over her dress of snow, the great tears roll slowly down her pallid
cheeks with every deep-drawn sigh.

The door creaks on its hinges, her arms are thrown up involuntarily, her
neck is outstretched, like that of a frightened deer startled by the
baying of the hounds. She listens, waits, hears something move, starts
up, and flies into the depths of the chamber, seizes the floating
curtains, wraps herself in the folds, unwinds them from about her, flies
on, turns, starts, stops, then suddenly falling on her knees, cries
aloud: 'THOU!' Her last hope is in that word, but all strength fails her
now, and she stands fixed to the spot with rigid face a